Brief introduction to the story of Ivan the Terrible

Brief introduction to the story of Ivan the Terrible | Appreciation | Reflection

1943 the first black-and-white movie 100 minutes.

1945 the second episode of black-and-white color film 80 minutes.

Produced by the Central United Film Studio in Almaty, Soviet Union.

Director: Sergei Eisenstein Photography: Andre Moske (interior), Edward Kisai (exterior) The main actors: Nikolai Cherkasov (as Ivan the Terri), lyudmila TseRykov Kaya (as Queen Anna Stasija), Shalafi Ma beermann (as aunt Yeflossia Staley Tskaya), Nazvanov (as Kubuqi).

The first episode of this film 1945 won the first prize of the Stalin Prize.

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first episode

Darkroom A bright lamp showed an eight-year-old child huddled in a corner in horror. This is Ivan from childhood. Some people with candles walked past him ... the door suddenly opened and Ivan's mother staggered in dragging her poisoned body and shouted, "Be careful of those nobles!" " "Mom was released. It's dark again. Mother died, and her lover was murdered by the nobleman Zuisky. Ivan trembled alone in the dark.

Five years have passed. Palace. A mural, on which the feet of angry angels trample the universe ... Ivan, who was only 13 years old, was surrounded by attendants in a robe and a crown, and ascended the throne of the Grand Duke of Moscow. He sat on the throne, with fear and hesitation in his eyes, and read the coronation speech with trembling fluency under the signal of Suyski. Looking at the nobles and envoys crawling at his feet, Ivan was a little flustered, but the surrounding atmosphere gradually worked on him, his timidity gradually disappeared, and his body began to sit firmly on the throne. He was about to open his mouth to speak when Su Yishi interrupted him first. Ivan's legs hung helplessly on the seat, swinging back and forth, but he couldn't reach the ground. ...

Ivan's bedroom. The maid is helping him take off his heavy robe. At this time, Sue led the nobles to invade and coerced Ivan to sign an agreement with the Nordic Hanseatic League and Livonia. Ivan looks like a beggar in rags in front of a well-dressed aristocrat. But instead of giving in, he sternly rebuked the nobles for betraying the country. Russia was poor and wealth fell into their pockets. The nobles burst into laughter, and Zuisky got carried away and put his feet on the bed. Ivan roared, "Get your feet off me, that's my mother's bed!" "Suesky jumped down, swinging his huge body, and a heavy iron bar waved on Ivan's head:" She is a bitch, flirting with people, and you are a * * *! Ivan put his hand over his body, and suddenly he was surprised and screamed, "Down with him! " "

Ivan is alone. He was surprised at his determination and what had just happened. He felt that he had lost his courage and became a timid child again. He buried his head in his mother's bed and choked. The door was pushed open and Ivan turned around in horror. The guards reported that they strangled Suyisky because they used too much force. Ivan was puzzled at first, and then he was firm: "I want to rule by myself, not by nobles, and I want to be a czar!" " "

Usbinski Cathedral in the Kremlin. Ivan, 17, is taking the coronation oath. He walked to the center of the church, covered with golden sunshine. In the shadow behind it, stahly's Tszki family are staring at him in dismay ... Ivan carried out a series of reforms after he ascended the throne, completely destroying the feudal aristocratic system. The Grand Duchy of Moscow began to become a centralized country backed by a strong regular army. It not only sent envoys to the German Empire, the Pope, Britain and Turkey, but also expanded its borders, conquered Kazan, astrakhan and Siberia, and tried to open the Baltic Sea to the west. Ivan's vigorous reform will inevitably infringe upon the interests of feudal nobles. In the past, friends and allies deserted in succession, and the opposition colluded with foreign forces to wait for subversion. Only soldiers from ordinary people, Maliuda and basman, are loyal to Ivan.

The bank in Moscow is on fire. People bewitched by rumors poured into the Kremlin to meet the tsar. The guards stopped them, and Ivan pushed the soldiers away and saw the people for the first time. The young czar tried his best to convince the people that he could run the country well. At this time, for the first time, he had a question in his heart: Are all the nobles against him? Who set fire to the house on the river bank? Who is destroying the people?

Ivan Paikul, Archduke Busch, marched into Kazan and conquered the Tatars. But the victory did not bring much comfort to the tsar. He is dying from overwork. The nobles have ulterior motives. The hostile forces are expecting him to die early and then abolish his son. As an aristocratic group, Evrosiniya, the aunt of the deep-water bomb, was secretly active, inducing Kurbski to betray the czar and support her son Vladimir as king. Queen Anna Stasija, who has always been kind and shy, stood up and denounced the separatist ambitions of the nobility. Kurbski wanted to take advantage of the czar's bedridden opportunity to possess the beautiful queen, but anastasia flatly rejected him and returned to Ivan. Evrosinia regards the queen as the biggest obstacle to seize power and usurp power, and wants to kill her quickly.

Ivan recovered with iron perseverance, and his serious illness made him see his noble face further, and he became more cold. The cunning Kurbski have it both ways turned to show his loyalty to Crown Prince Dmitry. In return, Ivan authorized him to command the army to attack Livonia and seize the ferry in the Baltic Sea. Evrosinia plotted a new plot to control the tsar. Piming, Archbishop of Novgorod, pointed out that the Queen must be cut off from Ivan and the czar isolated.

The Queen can't afford to get sick, and Yefu Rosinha stands by like a crow. The Queen struggled to get up to see Ivan, and Yefu Rosinha made an excuse to stop her. At this time, footsteps came, and she quickly hid behind the stairs and took out a pack of poison ... Ivan came in, the queen opened her eyes to drink water, and Ivan helped her with a cup. Ye Frosi, secretly smiled and made a cross. ...

The queen's coffin is parked in Usbinski Cathedral. Ivan looked sadly at the queen's calm face, full of thoughts. The monk sang a prayer hymn to express his inner anguish: "There are more people who hate me for no reason than the hair on my head." Then the bad news came that Kurbski fled to Lithuania and the nobles defected. Ivan realized that Russia's feudal system must be completely eradicated, and immediately shattered the conspiracy of the nobles headed by Ye flosi. To carry out a cruel and bloody struggle, someone must carry out the will of the tsar without hesitation and get the support of the people. He unexpectedly announced that he would abdicate and live in Huangcun. The people who had been oppressed by the nobility held icons and colorful flags in a long winding line and crossed the snowy wilderness to the tsar and asked him to return to the throne. Ivan found an excuse to start the crusade. He recruited a large number of elite civilians to form the Guards, and carried out bloody suppression of aristocratic rebellion. From then on, Ivan really became a frightening "Reddy".

the second group

Ivan, surrounded by guards and cavalry, returned to Moscow to meet his only friend, Correggio, who was called President Philip. He hoped that the President would help him revitalize Russia. However, Correggio forced Ivan to satisfy the interests of the nobility. Ivan gave in against his will for fear of being left alone. He accepted Correggio's brother as his confessor. Miranda reminded the Tsar that he should eradicate hidden dangers and eliminate Correggio's brother as soon as possible. Ivan is once again in conflict and depression. He rushed into his dead wife's bedroom and raised his hands to the sky ... basman's guard captain faithfully protected Ivan. He told the tsar that the queen was poisoned by Yevlonia, and he took Ivan to a secret window. In the yard, Miranda stood in the snow with a saber in her hand. In front of him, a group of nobles, including three members of the Correggio family, were kneeling on their knees. With a wave of his saber, his head fell to the ground. Ivan walked into the yard and suddenly shouted, "Too few!" So the guards dragged another group of nobles with laughter. ...

The church forces headed by Philip and the nobles around Ye Frosi swore to the bodies of the Correggio brothers that they would use the church to subdue the Tsar and overthrow Ivan. In the cathedral, a biblical drama "Hebrew Children and the Burning Stove" is being staged, and the church implies that the czar is a heretic. There was a stove where Ivan was crowned, and three Hebrew children were driven into the stove by a magician. Evrosinia explained that the czar killed them and the angel of God saved them. The tsar walked into the church, listened to the vicious lyrics in surprise, but pretended not to know, and went forward to salute Philip. He bowed three times, and the Bishop turned around and snubbed Ivan three times. At the same time, he ordered Ivan to yield to the church and disband the guard. Ivan rapped on the floor with his cane and snapped, "I want them to be scared!" " "Philip was arrested.

Evrosinia was dying and plotting to assassinate Ivan. Piming sent priest Peter to assassinate him, and Yevlonia gave him the dagger. Ivan invited Prince Vladimir to the Royal Village for dinner. The soldiers in the convoy drank too much, too much. The czar sat next to Vladimir and poured wine for him. Ivan pretended to be drunk, but secretly enjoyed the scene he arranged. He likes masquerade. When he is drunk, his crown cloak is taken off and the czar's badge is put on Vladimir. Then I personally helped the drunken Vladimir to the throne. When the morning prayer bell rang, Ivan put on the bishop's black dress and encouraged Vladimir to enter the cathedral. Guards disguised as monks, holding candles, lined up to follow. The assassin Peter was mixed in the team. As soon as he approached Vladimir, Peter raised his sword and pierced his shoulder blade. Vladimir threw himself to the ground. Evrosinia ran over ecstatically, stamped her body and screamed, "Look, this is what happened to Ivan!" "Suddenly she froze, the guard's queue flashed out from the gap, and Ivan came slowly towards her. Evrosinia trembled, turned over and recognized her son ... The guards brought Peter to Ivan. The czar put his arms around his neck affectionately and said to Maria, "Why did you arrest him? He killed a clown. "

Episode 3 (unfinished)

After Kurbski surrendered to Livonia, riots were planned in Pskov and Novgorod. The assassin Peter confessed to Ivan, and Bishop Biming was also involved in the plot. The furious czar was killed, bishops Philip and Piming were killed, Yev Rosinha drowned in the river, 65,438+0,500 people were executed in Novgorod, 65,438+0,70 monasteries were destroyed ... General basman Novo, who fought alongside Ivan, was executed for corruption, and loyal Malouda died in battle. Kurbski and the king of Livonia fell into the trap set by Ivan, and the whole army was wiped out in the swamp. Ivan finally realized his dream, got through the Baltic Sea and became the monarch of the Russian empire across Europe and Asia. But beside him, except Peter, he was the only one left.

Distinguish and appreciate

The film tells the important events of the formation of the Russian Empire in the16th century. Ivan the Terrible of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, backed by a strong regular army, carried out a series of positive domestic reforms and foreign policies, which dealt a heavy blow to the feudal aristocracy, conquered neighboring countries, expanded the border, gained access to the Baltic Sea, and established centralization across Europe and Asia.

Director Eisenstein did not simply reproduce the historical facts, but tried to show the historical era and the activities of the tsar completely and profoundly through artistic means. The purpose of this treatment is to clearly show the sharp contradictions of the times, reveal the characteristics and significance of Reddy's image, their fierce internal conflicts, and highlight the progressive tendency of all his activities and his personal tragic fate. The director thinks that the basic task of the film "should show the character development process of great historical figures". Reddy's story should be about "a carefree teenager turned into an exhausted but determined autocratic monarch in the struggle" and "the intrigue of the upper class was suppressed and weakened" When the director shows Ivan's character development process transformed according to the historical inevitability and the requirements of life itself, he also makes the lonely Reddy doubt the path he has chosen and fall into a tragic inner conflict, thus giving the image distinctive human characteristics. In order to maintain the traditional power and vested interests, the church colluded more and more closely with the nobles, opposed Ivan's reform, and plotted to destroy itself. Ivan was forced to take bloody violence and declare war on the nobility and the church. Although he became an autocratic monarch who dominated the world, he was still alone in the end.

The plot, performance, modeling and music in the film are all subject to the tragic contradiction of Reddy's image. In Eisenstein's films, there has never been such a complete plot, such a profound, wonderful and colorful performance. In the modeling of the second episode, he surpassed his previous level, making the film expressive in both overall structure and details, reaching a new brilliant peak.

Eisenstein has always been famous for his experiments based on dynamics in the world film industry, but his Ivan the Terrier, contrary to the usual technique, happened suddenly in a "near-static tense atmosphere" and "like a corpse in action". Here, the characters are depicted in a mythical way, each character exudes a Greek tragedy, each face has the characteristics of a mask, and each action is symbolic in nature. Every detail is as exaggerated as the movements in kabuki. These characters seem to have come down from murals. The audience only thinks that they are bystanders of intrigue and conflict between these men and women. Some critics think this is an unparalleled film, an opera and a patriotic epic. Only by reading all the author's articles can we fully understand them.

As a master with outstanding talent and extraordinary film imagination, Eisenstein concentrated almost all his creative exploration on film modeling treatment and picture modeling expression. The whole "Ivan the Terrible" is divided into several expressive scenes, and the dialogue between the characters is stylized to obey the modeling style of the whole film. The overall historical characteristics, action atmosphere, relationship between characters and their psychological state of the film are all expressed through the profound modeling means and the vivid music of composer prokofiev.

Eisenstein relies on the skills of two outstanding photographers, Moske Wen and Keith, and the help of a senior artist, Shi, to make the modeling of the film achieve extraordinary artistic expression. Heavy wine glasses, iron-cast kettles, grotesque lampstands, gilded plates, brocade vestments, furnishings in the inner palace, symbols of kingship, church books and utensils, portraits of saints, heavy candlesticks, cannons with animal designs, tents, bows and arrows and flags of combat teams, all of which are handled with exquisite skills and blameless artistic aesthetics. With the help of these props, Eisenstein makes people feel the experience of the characters in the play, and also expresses his attitude towards the event. For example, when the young czar learned of the fire along the coast of moscow river at the wedding, his mental state changed greatly, which was not only shown by the actors' performances and dialogues, but also by props. At this time, the neat and symmetrical gold-plated swan held high by the servants suddenly shook, as if frightened and scattered.

The scene where Ivan appeared in the crowd in the film was carefully conceived in terms of composition and lighting. In the lens on the steps of the palace, the tsar seems to be integrated with the people. At the same time, his seemingly soaring white figure was even more dazzling by the surrounding black-dominated crowd. The scenes at the end of the first episode are novel. In the foreground, the light depicts Ivan's clear vulture-like facial outline. Ivan looked out of the loophole and the prospect was a wasteland. People in Moscow lined up to petition him. In this shot, the courtyard wall separating him from the people seems to suddenly collapse, and people flock to the monastery where the czar is hiding. The unforgettable portrait of the czar made the audience feel the closeness of the people to him, and he gained great strength through the support of the people.

In the film, almost all the scene scheduling is designed accurately and expressive. For example, the scene in front of "The Spirit of anastasia" is a wonderful pen of directing skills. Eisenstein successfully used almost all the expressive force of the film here. In the depths of the temple, which was half bright and half dark, there was a chorus singing. Ivan sadly guarded the coffin, and Maria darkly reported the news of the aristocratic rebellion to him. The candles flickered and the monks sang a prayer hymn. In this complex modeling and acoustic background, Ivan's external posture is intertwined with the "inner monologue" embodied in the Bible and the secular affairs represented by Maria, forming a very unique sound and picture picture.

The second episode, on the one hand, describes the conflict between Ivan and the nobility, which makes his plot more complicated, on the other hand, it makes a subjective inquiry into Ivan's inner conflict. Loneliness leads to painful doubt, which becomes the basis of the tragic contradiction of Reddy's image. Superman's distress is twisted in Ivan's heart, sometimes paralyzing his will, in order to drive him to achieve the goal of reunification by more cruel means in the next step. Ivan in history was not only a great monarch who unified Russia, but also a tyrant who was forced to use cruel violence. The idea that he was destined to return that day was increasingly in conflict with the Orthodox Church, which safeguarded the interests of the nobility. The second episode reveals the philosophical conflict between the mysterious intuition that man is God's tool and the church's manipulation and maintenance of tradition and the power of vested interests. The main plot line planned by the church and nobles for a long time is intertwined with Ivan's need to get rid of his extreme loneliness and push the plot forward.

Eisenstein used a very peculiar dramatic technique to express this conflict. For example, the church staged a Bible play in the cathedral where Ivan was crowned, insinuating that the czar was a heretic and urging him to repent. Ivan's attempt to reconcile with archbishop Philip failed, and he was forced to declare war on the church and nobles. Then there is the movie * * *: the nobles plot to assassinate the tsar, and Vladimir takes his place. Ivan invited the "future heir" to dinner and personally directed a good play to steal the column. This passage has a strong stylized atmosphere, which plays up Ivan's tricks on Vladimir. Everyone is deceived by his role in life, but Ivan plays with everyone like a mouse. The performance, music and modeling in this play all show superb level and rich expressive force. Among them, the scene where the guards held a banquet and danced was specially colored, and the tense atmosphere of intrigue and murder was accurately set off with gold, red and black symbolizing power, struggle and death, which gave people an ominous expectation and obtained a high degree of emotional rendering effect.

The end of the second episode after the final review is expressed by suggestive songs combining sound and pictures. A scene at Windsor Palace shows Ivan's special envoy, the German ambassador and the Queen of England playing diplomatic chess. The game changed suddenly and quickly, interspersed with several scenes in which Kurbski and King Livonia fell into the trap set by Ivan.

Although there are few scenes in the film that use performance to create artistic images, the actors still leave a deep impression on people. Eisenstein demanded that the content of the drama be fully and vividly expressed as possible, and created extremely vivid scene scheduling and portraits. He used a lot of close-ups to make them an integral part of modeling and montage structure. Cherkasov, the people's actor who plays Ivan, shows rich connotations. He showed the suspicion, depression, loneliness and violence in the czar's inner world to the fullest. His superb acting reached the height of real tragedy.

But the emotional tension in the film is more obtained through modeling and music. For example, the grand scene of the coronation of the czar, there are almost no actors performing here. All this is not achieved by the actors' performances, but by the panoramic view of the cathedral and many portrait shots, as well as the cooperation of the chorus and the increasingly loud and high-spirited voice of the priest. In the scene of the oil painting ceremony, a series of portraits of monks, the expression portrait of Ivan's head leaning back when he was ill, the sharp contrast between the white robes of monks and the almost black portraits of saints left a strong impression on people.

Music has also become an extremely important drama factor and modeling method in movies. Prokofiev, a famous composer, was surprised by Eisenstein's temperament and his ability to concisely state his intention to the composer. In Eisenstein's words, "Music must tear up her son like a mother". Ivan's theme is at the beginning of this epic, and the song symbolizing "storm warning" is presented on the screen. Before the plot was shown, the song was called "Dark clouds are surging, and the dawn is immersed in a pool of crimson blood. On the body of the enemy, the words "Russians unite as one" reach to * * *. In the last paragraph of the first episode, it echoes with a new quality and overture. At this time, Ivan's theme appeared again, "The storm is coming ..." Ivan, who grew up in the tortuous road of loneliness and fear, firmly expressed his will: "The voice of the people is the voice of God! I hold God's sword of vengeance in my hand ... This theme has been further developed and continued in orchestral music. The commentary believes that "music makes the film full of the parallel and developmental effects of emotional sounds. "The cooperation between these two masters has created a successful example in the history of international film art..

The whole Ivan the Terrible runs through Eisenstein's profound inner experience all his life. Through careful study, he came to the conclusion that people like Ivan are forced to take actions that are not bound by the traditional concepts of "good" and "evil" in order to survive. He finally fully realized what he said in 1929: "The task of art is to express the existing contradictions". This film brought this talented artist to an unprecedented artistic peak.

The conception and preparation of the third episode of the film have begun to take shape, but Eisenstein died shortly after the filming of the second episode (1948), leaving an irreparable gap in the world film history.